Germany believes that the UN is indispensable in addressing these global problems. Indeed, the most pressing challenges of our time- climate change, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, poverty and abuses of human rights – can only be addressed through a multilateral effort.

Among all international organizations, the United Nations is the only global forum with universal membership. It is also the only organization where all nations come together and speak with an equal voice. This confers a unique political legitimacy to the United Nations and makes it a decisive player in setting global norms and upholding common values. These norms guide relations between states and within the international space. As a forum for multilateral negotiation, a catalyst for global solutions and a force for peace in many of the world's conflicts, the United Nations stands at the center of the most critical and complex issues the world is confronting today.

The United Nations is therefore a key pillar of German foreign policy. This is reflected in our long-standing commitment to the values of the UN and through substantive contributions to the work of the organization. Germany is the fourth largest contributor to the UN budget, but its voluntary contributions make it the second largest contributor overall. Moreover, Germany contributed around 6% of the UN Peacekeeping budget in 2019 and is a donor in many other UN programs and funds for sustainability, humanitarian aid and development.

Further Reading:

• SWP - Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
• DGVN - United Nations Association of Germany
• DGAP - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik